Despite soaring temperatures Ireland’s racing programme goes ahead unchanged this weekend with officials keen to stress how well racehorses acclimatise to hot weather conditions.
Temperatures are forecast to rise to 26 degrees at the Curragh which stages the €500,000 Juddmonte Irish Oaks on Saturday.
It is a Classic shorn of its star attraction, however, since the odds-on favourite Emily Upjohn was ruled out on Friday due to a bizarre sequence of events.
The filly, who had been expected to give Frankie Dettori a record-equalling sixth Irish Oaks victory, can’t be transported in time.
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“The plane which was going to be taking her to Ireland, they also use for Royal Mail,” explained joint-trainer Thady Gosden
“It was flying out of Edinburgh to pick her up and there was a bird strike. The plane that was meant to be taking her there now can’t get her in time and they can’t find another plane. Unfortunately, we are completely snookered.”
Emily Upjohn will now be switched to next Saturday’s King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot and a clash with the Irish Derby winner Westover.
Events have thus conspired to present Jessica Harrington with what looks a first-rate opportunity to record a second Curragh Classic success through her Royal Ascot winner Magical Lagoon.
The Ribblesdale heroine is a general 11-10 favourite to beat half a dozen opponents. Harrington won the 1,000 Guineas with Alpha Centauri in 2018.
If it figuratively appears to be a less than white-hot Oaks renewal then literal heat is preoccupying minds in British racing.
On Friday the British Horseracing Authority announced the cancellation of five fixtures on Monday and Tuesday due to the heatwave.
A historic extreme heat warning forced the cancellation of Windsor and Beverley on Monday as well as Chelmsford, Southwell and Wolverhampton the following day. The courses fall within, or are situated close, to a UK Met office ‘red’ warning area.
Sunday’s National Hunt card at Stratford has been moved forward to noon with anticipated cross-channel temperatures of up to 40 degrees next week.
A BHA spokesman said: “The BHA’s number one priority in the staging of any meeting is the wellbeing of all involved, human and equine.
“Following the issuing of the first ever extreme heat warning by the Met Office, we are taking sensible precautions and have made a decision as soon as possible in order to provide certainty for those impacted.”
Apart from two days of Flat action at the Curragh, there is a jumps card at Tipperary on Sunday, with an all-steeplechase card where the shortest race distance is two miles. The first will be off at 1.50.
On Friday the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) said there were no concerns about the impact of this heatwave on horses.
“The IHRB veterinary team will monitor temperatures and humidity as well as wind speeds which are also factors. While this warm spell is ongoing they will continue to do that.
“They will do pre-race veterinary checks but the risk is actually relatively low. We have had reasonably high temperatures in the last couple of weeks and while temperatures are getting higher, horses actually acclimatise very well so it’s not a massive jump for the horses themselves,” an IHRB spokesman said.
The IHRB referenced how weather conditions are not expected to get as hot here as they are in some parts of England.
It also pointed to the meetings at Ballinrobe on Monday and Tuesday both being evening fixtures, taking place when peak temperatures will have started to drop.
The immediate focus is on Oaks day where ground conditions will be quick for a Classic that shapes as a perfect opportunity for Magical Lagoon to step up to Group One level.
Connections of all seven remaining runners are contemplating a transformed Classic opportunity, although the Harrington runner looks best positioned to avail of it.
Magical Lagoon thrived on a mile and a half and quick ground to land the Ribblesdale and is top-rated on an official mark of 109.
That looks the benchmark performance, so considering History was just over three lengths behind Magical Lagoon at Ascot, Ryan Moore’s decision to opt for Toy instead looks to carry extra significance.
Aidan O’Brien also has Emily Dickinson in the mix as he attempts to become the most successful trainer in Irish Oaks history with a seventh win.
Harrington’s second-string Fennela can boast only a maiden win but carries a major home reputation while Cairde Go Deo also looks a real player now.
Saturday’s main support event is the Group Two Barberstown Castle Sapphire Stakes where Mooneista will try to repeat her victory of 12 months ago.
Cadamosto is the Ballydoyle No 1, although first-time blinkers on his stable companion New York City could see improvement.
The 2020 Breeders’ Cup winner Order Of Australia is back to try and repeat his Group Two Minstrel Stakes success on Sunday where he clashes with Pearls Galore in the seven-furlong heat.
If the $2 million purchase Purplepay handles the quick surface she will be hard to beat in the Group Two Kilboy Stakes given official ratings.
